KPIRG Director of Anti-Oppression Steps Down

Ryot “R” Jey—who has been working as the Director of Anti-Oppression for the Kwantlen Public Interest Research Group since April—stepped down this month to focus on his well-being and his position as Queer Representative for the KSA.

As detailed in a job description posted on KPIRG’s website, the Director of Anti-Oppression is expected to “provide overall leadership, engagement, and resourcing on anti-oppression initiatives in consultation with the KPIRG Board.” In the months leading up to his resignation, Jey felt that he was unable to properly fulfill those requirements.

“My reason for resigning is that I have been struggling with my own personal mental health and I felt that taking on the extra added position as director was something I was unable to do. I personally felt I was not fulfilling my position as well as I could,” he says.

Primarily, Jey reports failing to communicate with his coworkers and transfer anti-oppression-related knowledge to KPU students, staff, and faculty. In contrast, now that he has resigned, Jey says that there is “open communication” and “a mutual understanding” between him and the team at KPIRG.

“They still have my support and I will still volunteer with them when I can, and support them to the best of my ability,” he says.

That being said, he does not have any intention of returning to his position as director of anti-oppression in the future, but he will continue to work as queer representative until he re-runs for the title in the next election.

Jey arrived at his decision to stay on as Queer Rep because he believes in KPIRG’s ability to “be successful and be able to secure another director of anti-oppression,” whereas he feels that “being the person to take that initiative and bring the concerns that my fellow queer and trans students have to the KSA” is his main priority. His identity as “a queer and trans-masculine, mixed-raced student” also makes him well-suited for the job.